By Brian Cameron, President EPIC-FSC

Wildfire Mitigation

What used to be a wildfire season has morphed to year-round status. Add to that risk a historic drought that is drying out vegetation and creating even more potential fuel and you see we are now living in perilous times. CAL FIRE has determined that 83% of the property damage done in wildfires is started by flying embers that can travel a mile ahead of the actual fire storm. Homes located in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone are in the greatest peril According to the latest Fire and Resource Assessment Program maps, all of Calabasas and a significant portion of Hidden Hills is in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.

A relatively new not for profit organization by the name of Emergency Preparedness In Calabasas – A Fire Safe Council – EPIC-FSC for short – was created to help individual homeowners protect their properties. EPIC-FSC provides free, confidential home ignition zone evaluations. These home hardening sessions take less than an hour and entail a walk around the exterior of your house where an EPIC-FSC advisor identifies your wildfire risks and offers suggestions to mitigate the problem. A report is produced that is sent to only you. There is no follow-up; nobody will try to sell you anything or check to see if you have followed the report’s recommendations although for your sake and that of your neighbors it is hoped that you do take the actions noted.

Earthquake Preparation and Recovery

Earthquake scholars estimate that Southern California is almost 100 years overdue for the “Big One”, an earthquake that will eclipse the damage done by the 1994 Northridge earthquake that produced 72 fatalities and did an estimated $20 billion in damages. The anticipated impact is a likely loss of emergency services. electricity, gas, water, and cell phone coverage for 5 to 7 days.

While no one can predict when the Big One will occur, everyone should be preparing for it. For example, you should keep a spare pair of hard soled shoes under your bed. Why? Because the most frequently cited injury during the Northridge earthquake was cuts to the bottom of the feet from stepping on broken glasses, dishes, mirrors, etc. in bare feet.

It has been reported that the largest amount of property damage was caused by fires started in the first few days following the earthquake. Homeowners without electricity lit candles for light and sometimes those candles fell over during an aftershock and started a blaze. The fire department, the City, the state, and EPIC-FSC all have very informative brochures that will show you what you can do to minimize your risk, and how you should plan today to get back to normal as soon as possible after.

Emergency Communications

One of the most commonly heard complaints during and following the 2018 Woolsey Fire was a lack of accurate information. The media likes to cover the rich and famous, usually to the exclusion of the rest of the population. As in the Woolsey Fire cell service was disrupted and some websites became unreliable due to pranksters. The fire forced the evacuation of 295,000 residents who struggled to get timely information about the fate of their homes and when they would be allowed to repopulate. EPIC-FSC is building a communication platform that will allow residents to have current, accurate information specific to Calabasas and Hidden Hills. This platform will be rolled out this year.